By Chris Toronyi
Another closed transfer window and another loud cry from The Arsenal faithful. We make noise, a lot of noise about the Club 'cause we love it so. We want more than anything for the Arsenal to excel, win trophies and bring in highly talented players that will win us trophies and provide a highly entertaining brand of football. Some of us want world class players, some of us want a specific player and some of us just want a player. Just to underline the Club's ambition.
Really? That's the solve?
As you know, it takes a special player to play at Arsenal. A player that has no doubt been scouted on many occasions for many, many years. Someone who fits the specific mold - and only a few know what exactly that entails. But we must remember we have one of the most impressive scouting networks out there, so we probably know every detail there is about said player. So we may identify a specific player or players, but at the end of the day the deal may not happen for many reasons. Indeed, all it takes is just one reason.
What I'm getting at is The Arsenal may have offered a fee, spoken with the player, but with any negotiation all parties must agree to the terms. Even something like emotions come into play that may derail a deal that looks perfect on paper to both clubs. It's not an easy dance. It's a negotiation dance I've done on many occasions in my field of work and, you know, sometimes it doesn't end the way I would have liked. Even though it feels right, and looks right to you, the other party may have hesitations that kills it. They may have a better offer from somewhere else. Or they just don't want to deal with you at all.
I guess what I'm saying is that the Club looks for talent everywhere, looks for value that they can build into brand names. Names that will deliver for us. But sometimes it's out of our control. As a good friend once told me, a negotiation is like getting married. You gotta date to find the one, but sometimes the one you think is it, isn't the one. It takes two parties to complete a negotiation. Two to get married. Two clubs to agree to every detail. Not easy by any means.
We're Arsenal. We strive to sign players that fit the Clubs' values and talent. Sometimes we don't marry them, but most of the time we do.
Thanks for reading and thanks to everyone who listens to The Arsenal America Podcast. Please know a new episode is available each week at www.ArsenalAmerica.com for download or stream.
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'Stateside Gooner' Chris Toronyi is a longtime Arsenal supporter and the host of The Arsenal America podcast, available every Thursday evening at ArsenalAmerica.com. You can read more of Chris' thoughts on Twitter.
The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of Arsenal Football Club or Arsenal Broadband Ltd.
Previous entries:
Aug. 28: Give it time
Aug. 21: Game on!
Aug. 10: Arsenal Ambition
July 26: The right silverware
July 6: Anti-anti-football
June 28: New additions
June 20: Failing chemistry
June 13: Summer school
May 8: Not the time to get ill
May 2: End of season variables
April 24: Making a point
April 18: Different kinds of tired
April 12: Emotionally spent
March 29: No doubt
March 23: An amazing run
March 13: Mad Men, mad season
March 6: Rush of emotion
February 29: Pride and joy
February 14: An evolving Arsenal
February 22: Anger is beautiful
February 14: An evolving Arsenal
February 8: A welcome display
February 1: The value of value
January 31: FA Cup magic
January 24: We have to be supportive
January 19: This is a massive game
